• Enhanced Real-Time Learning : VCE via HMDs enabled observation and guidance during emergency scenarios. • Improved communication and decision-making: VCE is using HDMs can facilitate rapid information transfer and remote consultations. • Feasibility: Despite technical limitations, HMDs are feasible and practical in emergency care environments. • Global Relevance with Local Adaptation: Global interest was evident, but region-specific trials are needed. • Future Innovation: Findings emphasised the need to refine technology, validate outcomes, and support adoption. Head-mounted devices (HMDs), such as smart glasses, are being implemented to deliver virtual clinical education (VCE) in emergency care, yet their value and practical limitations remain unclear. To synthesise evidence on HMDs enabled VCE usage by healthcare professionals and students in emergency care, and to identify reported benefits and challenges. A Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) guided scoping review was conducted. Five databases and grey literature sources were searched, without date restrictions, for English-language studies describing HMD use for VCE in emergency care. Sixteen studies met the eligibility criteria. Data were charted and summarised descriptively. Most studies (50%) were published after 2021, originating from high-income countries. Reported advantages included enhanced two-way communication, faster clinical decision-making, hands-free documentation and remote supervision. Recurrent barriers were short battery life, unstable connectivity, restricted field-of-view, hygiene concerns and medicolegal uncertainty. Small sample sizes, heavy reliability of simulated environments and varied use of outcome measures limits generalisability of the findings. Early evidence suggests that VCE using HMDs, can enrich emergency care, workflow and teaching, but technical, human-factors and regulatory obstacles persist. Larger, multi-centre studies using standardised metrics and real-world deployment are required before routine adoption can be recommended.
Smit et al. (Sat,) studied this question.